Cold hardy lime tree?

Cold hardy lime tree? Does it exist? My beloved lime tree died in the San Antonio freeze of 2010.(the news called the freeze: "arctic blast") It got down to the high 20's for a few hours and my baby died. I was really attached to that lime tree so it's hard for me to get over this... However, I need lime for my beer, so I really need something productive here. If a ground tree wont work what do you think about potting a small tree and bringing it inside for the winter? Money isn't really an issue, I just need limes. What size pot would I need? Any ideas?

Key lime trees are fairly small and easy to keep as potted plants, I think they are the best tasting of the limes.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/49906/

Ratfood, I recall that during a guided tour of the UCR citrus genome depository groves, where every known citrus in the world is grown. The guide showed us one tree that was related but not a citrus, it had most of the properties of a lemon, but was cold tolerant.

It supposedly provided a juice that could be substituted for lemon juice. Not being from a cold area I did not pay particular attention to it, and cannot now recall the name. But it is out there and I bet that with a little research you can find it. Such a tree might answer your needs. Don

The only cold tolerant citrus that I know of is the trifoliate orange which can be grown outside in zone 6. The problem is that the fruit is seedy and extremely tart. Edible Landscaping has a couple of varities available.

To answer your question about lime trees. No, they are not cold hardy and are some of the most cold sensitive of all the citrus. Some of the lime cultivars, including the Key Lime, need protection from temperature below 32ºF. The others need protection below 30ºF. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures increases the damage done to them. It would be best to keep it in a large pot and overwinter it indoors or in a greenhouse. You could erect a temporary mini-greenhouse around one planted in the ground. You would have to have a heat source to keep it above freezing.
http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/solver/varietyinfo.html

Thanks folks, I was looking for an easy way out. I guess I am in the market for a greenhouse for the winter. I really appreciate your help.

I've been searching for a cold hardy lime substitue but haven't found one yet. This may be of use to you.

http://www.plantfolks.com/index.html

Lots of useful info in there along with links to other useful info.

Hey Ratfood...

Did you find a Texas source for your 'key-lime' citrus tree?

I've been wanting to try growing some key-lime. I know it will have to be in a pot because we do get freezing days here in N. Texas.

Calamondin Citrus are hardy to 18 degrees and fruit non-stop. They are about the size of a quarter. They are very tart and the peel is edible if you dont want to discard it. Once they get over 3 feet, which took my 9 inch bush one season, you should expect more than you can eat. You can find them at Lowes and Home Depot. I know the Lowes in San Marcos has many right now. Mine made it thru multiple years until the 14 degrees this winter froze them back to 5 inches. They are already back to 18 inches and growing fast. Grow it as a bush. It isnt worth trying to trim it to a tree shape.

This message was edited May 5, 2010 5:01 PM